Ember of Hope

Raegan and Valiance stood on the opposite sides of the dais with a druid on the third side. She was chanting something with her eyes closed. While Raegan and Valiance held hands. A while later the other druid came forward. She silently picked up the dagger and held out her hand. Valiance extricated one of his hands from Raegan’s and placed it in the druid’s hand. She made a little slice in his palm with the tip of the dagger and blood flowed down in the chalice. Then she asked Raegan for her hand and did the same procedure and asked them to clasp their sliced palms together. Their blood trickled down in the chalice and mingled.

The other druid was still chanting with her eyes closed. Their wrists were then bound together with a barely there golden thread. The chanting druid opened her eyes and put her hand atop theirs. Her chanting changed pace. It felt softer now and kind of musical. A slight tingle started from the tips of her fingers and spread through her whole body then the thread started disappearing before their eyes. It was as if it their skin was absorbing it. The tingling stopped. Their palms had stopped bleeding a while ago. Then she released their hands and picked up the chalice. She swirled it around and a little flame erupted from it. Raegan gasped. When the druid put the chalice back down it was squeaky clean without a trace of their blood.

They walked back to their place and it was Sarah and Damien’s turn at the dais. Seeing the process taking place with Raegan had somewhat lessened Sarah’s nervousness. The process started with their friend’s as they held hand over the golden chalice. “Is it done?” she whispered to Valiance.

“Almost. There’s just a small thing left to complete the mating. But that’s not for public eyes”. He whispered back and grinned when he saw her eyes widen, liking very much where her brain took her. She narrowed her eyes, “You’re joking right?”

“I certainly am not sweetheart. Even though I like the way you’re thinking right now, that’s not it. What’s remaining is the completion of blood exchange. You offered me yours but I still have to offer you mine”. He explained.

“Oh”. Her oh was a little understanding and a lot disappointed.

“And then we’ll consummate the bonding” he said nonchalantly and she glared at him when someone behind them coughed pointedly.

There were matching smiles on Sarah and Damien’s faces as they came back hand in hand after they were done. Sarah threw her arms around Raegan and hugged her close. Then she proceeded to pull Damien and Valiance in a group hug. Raegan thought she saw someone in one of the fortress’s windows. It wouldn’t have been odd if the staff were there looking at the ceremony but she had a feeling she knew who it was. Her jaw clenched. She turned to find her father in the crowd and found him walking towards them with Valiance’s parents in tow. They had identical grins on their faces that made them look so young. For a moment she forgot her ire.

Her father allowed Val’s parents to greet her first and when finally he took her in his arms; his eyes were glistening. “I’m so happy for you. He is the best man I could’ve asked for you.” he kissed her forehead and she kissed his cheek in return.

Still in her father’s embrace, she asked what was bothering her, “I saw someone in the window just now. It was Katherine, wasn’t it?”

He hung his head, “I’m sorry sweetheart. It’s just that she requested me and I just couldn’t deny”. He shook his head sadly. Raegan felt a pang in her heart for the suffering her father was going through. Katherine was his soul mate. He didn’t deserve to be so unhappy. So she once again settled in the warmth of his arms where in such a short time she’d started feeling cherished as Valiance had promised.

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A feast followed the ceremony and they laughed and danced till dawn broke. Finally they were alone. Damien and Sarah had called it a day almost an hour ago. “Are you ready?” Valiance asked her softly. He must have thought she wasn’t ready to complete the bonding. But she was. She’d been ready for a long while now. So instead of answering she simply took out a beautiful little dagger from a night stand and extended it to him. The resulting smile on Valiance’s face was brilliant.

Instead of slicing his palm like she had done or the ceremony had required, he opted to make a little cut on his neck. It seemed more intimate somehow. She got up on her knees, straddled his legs, and pulled him close by sliding a hand around his nape. As soon as the blood touched her lips a current ran through her whole body. Something similar had happened when she’d first touched him so long ago in the healing quarters, but this was stronger, more potent. Valiance grabbed her waist and pulled her closer on his lap. She had expected a coppery taste to hit her tongue and realized she had been somewhat skeptical before this point. But the rich warm sweetness that coated her tongue was anything but coppery. It had a little spice to it and when she lapped again; a shiver passed through Valiance and he moaned. So she did it again… and again… until his wound healed and closed over. She kissed his neck and trailed her lips along his jaw. “What now?” she spoke against his lips.

Valiance opened his eyes and closed the distance between their lips, “Now I’m yours and you’re mine. And we have a proof of it for everyone else”. He set her down on the bed so tenderly like she was a china doll in danger of breaking. Then he removed his tunic and shirt beneath to show her the back of his neck. There was a small pattern that looked like symbols or runes running down his neck. It looked like a tattoo in a rusty red color. “Wow it’s… beautiful”.

“You have them too. Turn around. Let me look”. She turned around on the bed and swiped her hair off her neck. “Does everybody get them on their necks?” she asked.

“No not necessarily but mates usually get them in the same place. Didn’t you feel a little heat at the back of your neck just after taking the blood?” he asked while skimming his fingers along what must be her tattoo or mating mark.

“I wasn’t paying attention I guess. How does it look?” and in answer she felt the warmth of his lips on her neck.

“Everything about you is beautiful love”.

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